Padanaram restaurant looks to expand hours, offer alcohol

DARTMOUTH — The Select Board did not take any action Monday night on a restaurateur's application to expand hours and serve alcohol.

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By CURT BROWN

southcoasttoday.com

By CURT BROWN

Posted Mar. 25, 2014 at 12:10 AM

By CURT BROWN
Posted Mar. 25, 2014 at 12:10 AM

» Social News

DARTMOUTH — The Select Board did not take any action Monday night on a restaurateur's application to expand hours and serve alcohol.

The board postponed the application of the Beach Plum Cafe, 6 Bridge St., until its April 14 meeting.

The restaurant, the site of the former Cecily's Cafe, has been serving breakfast and lunch for five years now, according to Peter Bullard, its attorney.

The restaurant — currently closed for renovations until the spring-summer, according to its website — wants to expand its hours until 9 p.m., he said.

It solicited support via an Internet petition and drew 235 supporters, he said.

Bullard said the restaurant owners, identified on the cafe's website as John and Lisa Lofberg, want to be part of the revitalization of Padanaram Village. There are 61 seats in the restaurant, including 26 in an outside area.

However, John Montigny, who lives in the area, objected to the application, saying it is less than 50 feet from nearby homes and the noise from patrons would be disruptive to residents.

He also contended the restaurant's deck was built illegally. The town's Zoning Board of Appeals gave permission to build a deck, but forbid the serving of alcohol and limited the hours.

Bullard said after the ZBA's ruling, the owners approached the town's director of inspectional services and constructed a new 6-foot fence "by right."

Select Board member Michael Watson asked to postpone the application until Town Counsel Anthony Savastano can review it.

"I just want to make sure that all the t's are crossed and all the i's are dotted," he said.